About

Christmas Charities Year Round (CCYR) is a non-profit, charitable organization that has served Madison County, AL since 1949, providing basic necessities year round, plus toys and food during the Christmas season, at no cost to clients. CCYR provides emergency resources including free clothes, shoes & household items, plus school supplies/uniforms to over 5,000 less fortunate children & adults annually.

Most of CCYR’s clients are facing hardship due to loss of income, homelessness, disability or domestic violence. CCYR also assists local residents in times of crisis or natural disasters, such as house fires and tornadoes. Another mission of CCYR is providing resources to veterans, and to prisoners re-entering society.

Christmas Charities was founded in 1949 to help local families after a boll weevil infestation devastated the area cotton crop. Since then, CCYR has been providing less fortunate children and their families with basic necessities, to help improve the quality of their lives and encourage children to stay in school. Education is the key to helping children break the cycle of poverty into which they are born.

CCYR provides free clothes, shoes, bedding, kitchen and other household items to thousands of individuals and families year round. Each Fall, free school supplies and school clothes/ uniforms are provided, and at Christmas, toys for children and food boxes for families are distributed. CCYR also recognizes the elderly and disabled with a Christmas gift and meal. In addition, CCYR provides free life skills training & counseling and other case management services, particularly to those who develop a chronic need for assistance.

CCYR depends on many generous individual & corporate contributors, including United Way & CFC donors, to serve thousands of people each year. Plus, we are able to do a lot with a little, due to our small, but dedicated staff, and many devoted volunteers, who include an active board of directors.

CCYR gratefully accepts gently used clothes and household items and cash donations. All donations are tax-deductible. In addition, CCYR can accept rags and paper, which will be recycled to raise funds for agency operations.